I wake up from another normal nightmare and check the time. Six forty-seven. Perfect timing. My own mind is my alarm clock, so I begin my morning. I fold the blanket I used and head to the bathroom. I see a bruise begin to form on my cheek. Shit. I put on a heavy layer of concealer trying to hide it. I head out skipping breakfast. Do I really need to quit Hamilton? No. Not for now at least. I'll just leave earlier than normal. I get lost in my thoughts until I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey," I hear Anthony call out.
"Oh, hey," I flash him a smile.
"I stopped by last night," he tells me. Oh shit. I mentally groan.
"Oh, why?"
"I, I just wanted to ask you a question about the after party, but Lin answered it," he explains.
"Oh, okay, sorry I couldn't answer," I say. "Hey can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot." I take a deep breath and begin.
"Let's say, hypothetically, someone was to quit after the first week of a new show, would everyone be mad at her?" He seems surprised.
"Well, um, I don't really know. Why?"
"Just wondering."
"Hey, is everything okay? Like with Keith?" Why is he asking me this?
"Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?"
"When I stopped by last night I told him to tell you I came and you didn't know today," he explains. No. He can't take me away from him! I'm so close to helping him! I love him and he loves me!
"He's very forgetful," I chuckle. He looks at me with concern.
"I also heard yelling, and glass shattering," he tells me. No. Don't cry. Don't cry. God damnit, Evelyn, don't cry. He leads to a bench and sits me down. I stare down at the ground.
"Hey," he whispers. "Is he hurting you?" He takes my hands and puts them in his.
"No- I mean yes- but, but it's different. He's going through a hard time with family, and his job, but it's okay, he doesn't mean anything, and I love him, and he loves me, and he can change. I can change. It's oka-" I get interrupted by a hug. He wipes his thumb below my eyes, realizing it's a tear, I give him a little smile. "I don't know why I'm crying, I didn't get much sleep last night," I chuckle.
"He shouldn't yell at you," he tells me. We jump at a loud boom of thunder.
"Come on, we need to go to the theater," I tell him standing up. The raindrops come faster than I thought they would. Shit, my make up. I feel the water droplets flood down my face and I avoid eye contact with Anthony.
"Holy shit Evelyn!" he says. I feel him staring at my jaw and cheeks but I don't look back at him. "Did he do this?" he asks already knowing the answer. I start to walk away from him but he grabs my arm.
"Stop, I'm a grown woman, I know how to handle myself, tell Lin I'm sick or whatever, I'll see you later," I tell him with pure anger in my eyes. He looks taken back and my facial expression softens. "I-I'm sorry, I really need to go." I continue to walk to the opposite side of the Richard Theater.